Tough-luck approach serves UFC 165's Brendan Schaub well

UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub isn’t afraid to take an unpopular position with MMA fans — or even his fellow fighters.

While being smothered on the mat, Lavar Johnson, his opponent at UFC 157 in February, grunted, “Let’s brawl. Why don’t we give them a show?”

Schaub’s response: “Why don’t you learn jiu-jitsu?”

When decorated submission grappler Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu chastised him for not doing enough jiu-jitsu during their grappling match in June, Schaub said he had gotten what he needed out of the competition and was satisfied with his performance.

In other words, tough luck.

Schaub (9-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC), who meets Matt Mitrione (6-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC 165 on Saturday (pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET), has a confidence that guarantees he’ll get an online drubbing from time to time. But the 30- year-old fighter and former Arena Football League player says that’s what he signed up for.

“To put yourself out there, you’ve got to deal with the negative criticism,” Schaub tells USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie.com. “I get way more positive than I do negative.”

His upcoming fight isn’t exactly kosher with the man whom he’ll stand opposite at UFC 165, which takes place at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Mitrione, his former teammate on “The Ultimate Fighter 10″ reality show, apparently is itching to punch him in the face after he reportedly asked the UFC to pair them.

In a lively sparring match several months ago on Twitter, Mitrione, a former NFL lineman, said Schaub looked like a cross between Adam Sandler and Corky from “Life Goes On.” Schaub retorted that Mitrione’s wife liked his appearance just fine.

They might not be friends anymore, but as Schaub puts it, “I don’t care if you put my brother in UFC gloves. For a title shot, I’m going to fight him to get there.”

In the heavyweight division, that journey might not be long. While both fighters recently got back into the win column, a few impressive victories could put either within reach of champ Cain Velasquez. Schaub, whose win against Johnson ended a two-fight skid, was on his way to a title shot after beating one-time challenger Gabriel Gonzaga and former Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

Schaub is unwavering about his motivation for fighting Mitrione, even if it rued a few feathers.

“The only reason I do it is to be the best — to be a world champion,” he says. “Whoever loses this fight is going to go one way. You’re the .500 fighter. The guy who wins is moving up the ladder to bigger and better fights. It’s a huge fight, and I plan on dominating Matt.”

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